.htaccess search optimization
In cPanel & WHM version 66, on new installations, we configure Apache to only search for .htaccess files in the /home/USERNAME/ directory and its subdirectories, where USERNAME represents the account's username. This decreases the number of locations to search for .htaccess files, which improves the speed of Apache searches. We display a feature showcase item to enable this feature for already-installed systems.​

These descriptions appear to be inconsistent. The showcase says only the user's home directory is searched, yet the release notes say the home directory *and* its subdirectories. Which is it?

Also, the release notes say "This decreases the number of locations to search..." So were there some directories outside of the user's home directory (and its subdirectories) that were searched before? If not, then how is there a decrease?

Exactly what directories are searched with the feature enabled?
Exactly what directories are searched with the featured disabled?
How can this feature be enabled/disabled later (outside of the showcase)?

If you enable the "Use "Document Root" and below" option, the .htaccess files in your account's subdirectories are recursively searched in the /home/$username/public_html (or whatever is configured as the document root for the domain name) directory. EX:

/home/$username/.htaccess > doesn't work
/home/$username/public_html/.htaccess > works
/home/$username/public_html/123/.htaccess > works
/home/$username/public_html/123/456/.htaccess > works

Also, the release notes say "This decreases the number of locations to search..." So were there some directories outside of the user's home directory (and its subdirectories) that were searched before? If not, then how is there a decrease?

Click to expand...

Yes, previously the default configuration was to search for .htaccess files outside of the account's home directory as well. EX: